Cardiac Cephalgia

Nancy Wassef1, Ali Turab Ali2, Alexia-Zacharoula Katsanevaki2

  • 1Birmingham Heartlands Hospital, UK.

Cardiology Research
|March 30, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Cardiac cephalgia, or exertional headache, can be a rare symptom of acute coronary syndrome. This case highlights an unusual presentation in a patient under 50, emphasizing the need for broader diagnostic considerations in ischemic heart disease.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Neurology

Background:

  • Ischemic heart disease (IHD) commonly presents with chest pain.
  • Rarely, IHD can manifest with atypical symptoms such as cardiac cephalgia (headache).

Observation:

  • This report details a unique case of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) presenting solely as exertional headache.
  • The patient, under 50, had a history of similar headaches potentially linked to prior left coronary artery stenting.

Findings:

  • The case underscores the possibility of cardiac cephalgia as the primary symptom of ACS.
  • This presentation is particularly unusual in a young patient and has not been previously reported at this age.

Implications:

  • Clinicians should consider cardiac cephalgia in the differential diagnosis of exertional headaches, especially in younger individuals with cardiac risk factors.
  • Further research into the mechanisms and prevalence of cardiac cephalgia in acute coronary syndrome is warranted.

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